最初は僕が身の回りの事話して布都ちゃんはそれに頷く感じだったけど、徐々に、布都ちゃんが口を開くようになった。彼女は改めて、自分が千数年前から寝ていた事、戸解仙っという仙人である事や、昔は豪族の人間(貴族か何かだろうか？)という事を自慢げに話していた。雨に打たれていた時の、一人ぼっち云々の事は何も話さなかった。どうやら、元来話したがりな子の様である。彼女の気が緩まった所で、そろそろ僕の方も眠くなって来た。「お主、眠いのか？すまないな。つい、話し込んでしまって」と布都ちゃんは申し訳なさそうに言った。僕が、もう寝るよ、明かりはつけておくから布都ちゃんは好きに起きてていいよと言うと「いや、我も寝るとしよう。疲れている気がする」と布都ちゃんは答えた。僕を気遣っているのだろうと思うけど、僕は何も言わなかった。照明を消して、布都ちゃんに寝床を貸し、僕は離れで寝る事にした。目蓋を閉じながら色々考えていた。これから布都ちゃんをどうするかと。見た所行く当てが無さそうである。行き場がないのなら暫く居候したりするのだろう。勿論、彼女の居場所を探す手伝いぐらいはするけど。どっちにしろ、僕はこれまでの生活を一変せざる得ない。まぁ、それもいいと思う。暇がない訳じゃないし、今取り立てて、やるべき事もない。そうぐずぐずと考えているうちに、「・・・お主、眠っておるか？」と布都ちゃんの声が聞こえた。寝てないよ、どうしたの？と布都ちゃんに聞き返すと「寝れぬのだ。疲れているはずなのに・・・あの、お主の傍で寝させてくれないか。恥ずかしい話だが、怖いのだ。独りで寝るのが。・・・このまま独りで寝てしまったら、起きた時に、また、独りになりそうで・・・」と力無さげに言った。一緒に寝るという言葉に少しどきりとしたが、断る理由も浮かばず、二つ返事で一緒に寝る事にした。「すまぬ、ぶしつけな申し出だと思う」僕の横で布都ちゃんが済まなそうに言った。いいよ別にと僕は答えた。無防備な子だ。いや、無防備なのは僕かもしれない。「今日は有難う。久々に人と話せて、嬉しかった。」と暗闇の奥で布都ちゃんは言った。僕が気にしなくていいよと言うと「そうか」と小さく呟いて、無言になり、そのうち寝息が聞こえる様になった。相当疲れていたらしい。この先がどうなるか判らないけど、この子が悪い子じゃなさそうだと思いつつ、そろそろ眠くなって来てわっふるわっふる

When I inquired about her personal life, at first she merely lowered her head, but she gradually started to open up. She explained once again that she had been sleeping for a thousand and some odd years, that she was an immortal shikaisen, and boasted about how she was a member of a powerful clan (possibly nobility?). She couldn't forgive how she was all alone in the pouring rain. It seems she was a rather talkative child. With her mood lightened, I could feel myself getting sleepy. "Do you feel tired? I apologize. It seems I got carried away with my conversation," she said with an apologetic tone. "I'm going to sleep. I'll leave the light on so you can get up whenever you want," I told her, only for her to argue, "No, I shall also sleep. I feel weary." I had a feeling she was somewhat worried about me, but said nothing. I turned off the light and lent her my bed, going off to sleep on my own. As I closed my eyes I thought about various things. What would I do about Futo-chan from now on? It doesn't seem like she has anywhere else to go, so it looks like she'll be staying with me for a while. Of course, I would help her search for a place where she would belong, but it looks like my life is about to turn around and there's no avoiding it. I guess that's fine too. It's not like I don't have enough free time, and there's nothing in particular I really have to do right now.

As I was busy rolling thoughts around in my head, I heard Futo-chan's voice: "Art thou asleep?" "No, I'm not," I replied. "What is it?" "I can not sleep, despite being tired. Oh... will you allow me to sleep by your side? It embarrasses me to say, but... I am scared of sleeping alone. If I sleep alone, I might wake up alone, just like that time..." she whimpered. Hearing her ask to sleep with me made my heart jump, but with no reason to deny her request I immediately accepted. "I apologize for such an improper request," she continued at my side. "No, no, I don't mind." Such a defenseless girl... or maybe I was the one who was defenseless. "Thank you for today. It has been a long time since I have talked to anyone... it made me happy," she said in the darkness. "You don't have to worry about it," I reassured her. "Is that so..." she murmured before going quiet, her breath slowing. She must have been quite tired. I don't know what's going to happen from now on, but this girl isn't a bad kid, I thought, as I grew ever sleepier... to be continued